Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Kurdistan Regional Government denies Turkish bombings

According to media reports, Turkish military helicopters have bombed empty villages in northern Iraq, seeking Kurdish rebels. However, The Kurdistan Regional Government today denied these reports, Reuters reported.

“The unconfirmed reports came as four Turkish soldiers were killed in a clash with militants of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in southeast Turkey near the Iraqi border,” the article notes.

The article adds that: “Ankara claims the right of self-defense under international law to attack the PKK inside Iraqi territory is known to have staged limited cross-border operations against the PKK.”

When Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan was asked in parliament about the report that PKK premises in northern Iraq had been bombed he replied: “I am not aware [of that].”

According to the article “The [Turkish] armed forces chief, General Yasar Buyukanit, said last Friday the military was ready and waiting for the government to order the cross-border operation, according to media reports.”